Mike Patton talks about Faith No More reunion
We're super psyched that Mike Patton and Faith No More are getting back together. So psyched, in fact, that we're republishing our interview from last year with Mike in which he talks about the last year or so in Faith No More's life, when things weren't going so well. At the time, Mike told us he would never be a part of a FNM reunion. We're glad he changed his mind!
So check out what he had to say after the break. See you at the shows!
Do you ever look back and say 'ah, the good old days...'?
Yeah, sometimes. But they're good because they ended. If they were still going, they'd be the sad new days.
Will there ever be a Faith No More reunion?
Well, not with me. I feel like when something's really done you have to have the courage and the strength to walk away from it and admit that it's done. We ended it at the right time and everyone's moved on and they're happy. In some strange way I'm busier than I was when I was doing that stuff. I'm in a really comfortable place, especially having my label and having created a bit of my own universe, it's pretty satisfying. But that was a great decade or so in my life and it's all a journey, I wouldn't be doing this now if I wasn't doing that then. I'm happy to still have something to say and have an outlet to do it.
Anyone ever suggests getting back together?
There's some guys in the band who would love to do that and then there's me. Everyone understands where I'm coming from and generally I think they agree. But every 3-4-5 years some brain surgeon in Scotland has an idea, some Svengali who thinks he can change the world, comes with a briefcase full of cash and makes a crazy offer. And it's not easy to go, 'eh, fuck it.' It would be very easy for some of us to rehearse for a couple of days, smile and cash the check. I'm not at that point. I got enough things to worry about, enough problems and enough things on my plate. Maybe if he comes with two briefcases full of money... (laughs)
What exactly did happen, you guys were still coming out with some great music, Album of the Year was awesome?
That was it though, I felt like we were slowing down. It was really hard to spit that record out. it took a long selection process with the music, I thought it was getting a little too scattered and it wasn't quite up my alley and I was ready to do some other things. I was happy with that record, I think it stands up to any of our others, but I was looking in the crystal ball and I could see where we were going with it. To me I felt like the best thing to do was to end on a good note, not walk away with a bad taste in my mouth. Surprisingly enough, everyone else agreed at that point.
So it was your idea?
Yeah, I think I brought it up first, but everyone really agreed. It was a very mutual decision, not teary-eyed. It was our time.
Your vocal range is amazing. How can you go from screaming your lungs out to whispering to singing all kinds of high notes without destroying your vocal chords?
I don't know, I don't have a good answer. I guess over the years I tried to put myself in situations where I exercise it. It's just a muscle and the more you do it the more you put yourself in situations where you gotta rise up. it's like learning a foreign language, total immersion you sink or swim. I've been lucky enough to tread water in some cases, in other cases I feel like I've learned a lot and done pretty well. I learned by doing and you have to be willing to fall on your face sometimes. I don't do it correctly, I don't do it classically, I just kind of do it.
Man, Axl Rose should have a chat with you...
No one can teach that guy anything. He's a perfect prick.
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